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Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air, like many other airlines, is already feeling the negative impact of the new virus variant “Omicron” on bookings, reports mfor.hu, citing a statement made by the company.
This article was originally published on our sister-site, Ungarn Heute.
In response to the economic portal’s questions, Wizz Air wrote that they are generally seeing a decline in bookings due to the increasing number of covid cases worldwide and the reintroduction of restrictions in several countries. In some countries, they have already had to reduce the number of flights due to the drop in demand. Nevertheless, the company remains optimistic about the holiday season.
While Wizz Air does not fly to any African countries now red-listed due to the pandemic, they do fly to several airports in Egypt.
Egypt is one of the countries where passengers transfer to and from other African countries. However, no special measures were required on the company’s planes and no protocol has been set in place yet to treat passengers infected with the Omicron variant, the company said. “The airline cannot investigate who is infected and who is not, so they cannot deny boarding and travel to their passengers on this basis. We only check the documents required for the journey and if they are in order, we allow boarding,” Wizz Air said.
The economic portal also contacted the Association of Hungarian Travel Agents (MUISZ). They wrote that the impact of the Omicron variant is not yet clear. The tendency for travelers to book relatively late, shortly before traveling, has been observed for months.
However, in their experience, the number of people willing to travel is higher during the Christmas and New Year period than last year. Besides the usual exotic destinations at this time of year, the United States is the most popular country among passengers, with New York being the most popular city.
MUISZ also mentions Dubai, which is already a popular destination in the winter months, but has now become even more popular because of the World Expo. Mauritius and the Seychelles have also received more bookings, but the Dominican Republic, the Maldives, and Egypt are also in demand.
Featured photo by Wizz Air


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Acer is releasing a new $99 tablet with a 7-inch display and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS that is expected to start pre-orders and sales in early 2013, with a rumored launch at next year's Consumer Electronics Show.
The Acer's new $99 tablet, the Iconia B1-A71 Android tablet, reportedly has the following specs: 7-inch 1,024 x 600 pixel display, a 1.2 GHz Mediatek MT6577 dual-core processor and 512 RAM. It comes with a striking blue-edge shell and a 1.3MP camera.
Reports of the dream-priced $99 tablet was announced by Wall Street Journal, which says the device is intended for consumers in developing countries. Leaked photos of the Acer Iconia B1 tablet first surfaced in December on a Serbian forum.
With those specs and features, Acer's Iconia 1B is expected to light up competition in the 7-inch tablet market occupied by Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Google Nexus.
The new $99 tablet from Taiwanese manufacturer Acer can also add up to 8GB memory via microSD, microSDHC, TransFlash.
Connectivity options include a USB 2.0 client, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wireless LAN 802.11.
The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has already cleared the Acer Iconia B1 but it may not be sold in the United States.
Techulator reports that Acer will launch the $99 Iconia B1 at the CES 2013 during which the Asus ME172V, projected to be the next-generation Google Nexus tablet, will also be unveiled.
The new Nexus tablet will have a starting price tag of $129 to $149 and may drop below $100 over time. The device will have a 7-inch screen, dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, and come in white and black colors.
So far, the only tablet that has come close to the $99 price tag has been the HP TouchPad.

domain: news


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Nokia Mobile’s next 5G smartphone Nokia X20 visits Geekbench with Snapdragon 480 5G and Android 11
In January, the press release by Qualcomm during the announcement of Snapdragon 480 5G revealed that Nokia Mobile was one of the companies that were preparing a smartphone based on the chip. Soon after that, a Nokia smartphone with the code name Quicksilver was spotted on Geekbench using the said chip in the same month.
Now, after Nokia G10’s appearance a few days back, Geekbench has confirmed the name of another new Nokia smartphone, the Nokia X20. The device was tested with 6 GB RAM and an SM4350 processor, that is the model number of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 480 5G chip.
The listing also reveals that the Nokia X20 will have Android 11 as its OS, and its base frequency is set at 1.8 GHz. Regarding the test scores, Nokia X20 managed to push it to 507 in the single-core test while 1661 in the multi-core test. If compared, the test details and scores of the Nokia Quicksilver and Nokia X20 are very similar.
Back then, the Nokia Quicksilver with 6 GB RAM and Android 11 had scored 471 in the single-core test and 1500 in the multi-core test. It was using an octa-core Qualcomm ARMv8 processor with a base frequency of 1.8 GHz, and the same identifier as Nokia X20. Hence, it is safe to assume that Quicksilver is the codename of Nokia X20.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G is built on the 8 nm process and can use mmWave and sub-6 GHz 5G bands. It supports up to FHD+ display at 120 Hz, Quick Charge 4+, either eMMC 5.1 or UFS 2.2 for storage, and LPDDR4x RAM.
Last year in June, Nokia Mobile had announced its plan of working on a smartphone-based on the Snapdragon 690 5G, but that device is nowhere to be seen. Hopefully, that device will see the light of day on April 8. With this, the count of the upcoming Nokia smartphones increases to two, which includes the Nokia G10 and Nokia X20 with 5G support.
Source: Geekbench, Via: MySmartPrice


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Brisbane, 18 Jul 2022
OneQode and TY Solution have signed a memorandum of understanding, aiming to become strategic partners for expansion across Asia and beyond.
- OneQode has signed a memorandum of understanding with TY Solution, a leading international ICT service provider in APAC.
- TY Solution will be expanding its service offering by partnering with OneQode, leveraging OneQode’s cloud to connect their userbase to the world.
- OneQode aims to grow its footprint by connecting with the respected TY Solution and providing their customers with high-quality infrastructure.
TY Solution and OneQode are excited to work together to bring more powerful infrastructure to users across the Asian market.
In accordance with the agreement, OneQode will be providing cloud infrastructure to bolster TY Solution’s product offering as they expand globally.
“TY Solution will be an important partner for OneQode with their strong reputation in the sector, and we’re excited to bring our advanced cloud compute to their product offering,” says Eric Yip, OneQode Executive Vice President.
By partnering with OneQode’s TY Solution will be able to provide customers with designed for high-performance, top-of-the-line cloud capacity.
“As TY Solution expands into new markets we need to keep our offering as robust as possible. With OneQode as a channel partner, we are excited to bring the next generation of interconnected experiences to our customers at the highest fidelity,” says TY Solution CEO David Tai.
In the future OneQode and TY Solution hope this cooperation will deepen to offer state of the art cloud compute to consumers across Asia-Pacific and beyond.
OneQode is a global infrastructure as a service (IaaS) company operating a latency-optimized international carrier network and high-performance cloud platform designed for the demands of real-time applications and competitive gaming.
About TY Solution:
TY Solution is an international IT service provider that provides enterprises with solutions including cloud computing, international data centers, IT hardware and software, and weak electricity, including products and operation and maintenance services.
Joe Swinn, Chief Marketing Officer


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EU Specialty Food Ingredients, the voice of the European specialty food ingredients industry, has noted that the Framework for Sustainable Food Systems (FSFS) legislative proposal is not included in the 2024 European Commission working programme published on 17th October.
EU Specialty Food Ingredients emphasises that even with the current European Commission not proposing an FSFS, the food industry continues on its path towards building more sustainable and resilient food systems as it clearly sees the advantages of the FSFS and supports its aims.
EU Specialty Food Ingredients calls for continuous institutional engagement towards a ripe EU legislative framework that supports industry to contribute to a more innovative and scientifically-based sustainable food system.
We consider a conducive regulatory framework essential to innovation, development and timely access to market
- Geert Maesmans, President of EU Specialty Food Ingredients
To this end, EU Specialty Food Ingredients also recalls that the proposal's core objective was to promote policy coherence at the EU and national level, and mainstream, at the international level, sustainability in all food-related policies strengthening the resilience of food systems.
As a trade association representing the interests of a highly innovative industry, EU Specialty Food Ingredients has, as part of its mission, to ensure recognition of the importance of innovation and of the role of specialty ingredients in sustainable diets and food supply chains, as well as their contribution to food waste prevention. Thus, it advocates for a scientific risk-based approach to all measures that the EU Commission intends to complete by the current mandate and in the future as they impact the viability and competitiveness of the EU food industry.
“We consider a conducive regulatory framework essential to innovation, development and timely access to market,” said Geert Maesmans, President of EU Specialty Food Ingredients. “These elements are critical drivers for the transition to sustainable food systems, from primary production to consumption and, in our opinion, will help achieve the EU’s environmental, social and economic objectives. Therefore, an EU-common, science-based framework is crucial.”
While acknowledging that there is ‘no one size fits all’ solution, Maesmans goes on to say that the importance of increasing the resilience of the EU supply chain and fostering constructive interactions with the food industry cannot be neglected, including when developing the secondary legislation which is crucial to successfully accompany the EU food industry in the Sustainable Food Systems journey, as well as in providing the instruments to react and swiftly adjust to social changes and market crisis.
EU Specialty Food Ingredients is also keen to help the EU legislators establish clear, ambitious, realistic and measurable objectives and roadmaps that will enable food supply chain stakeholders to develop their own plans with a clear direction on the road towards a sustainable food system.
“In conclusion, EU Specialty Food Ingredients hopes that putting on hold the Framework Legislation will translate into an occasion to further reflect on the legislative measures to succeed in the EU's ambitions towards a sustainable, innovative and resilient EU food system, and it aims that this time will be constructively used to give the opportunity to the EU food supply stakeholders to be more involved into the legislative drafting of the framework proposal and the secondary legislation,” explained Geert Maesmans.


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SPY Mouse has released onto the app store today, a new line-drawing game from Firemint Studios, the creators of Flight Control.
Playing as a mouse who fancies himself a secret agent, players must take on fantastical feline creatures with an assortment of power-ups and gadgets in 72 levels.
Rob Murray, founder and director of Firemint, told MCV: "SPY mouse is Firemint’s best game yet. We’ve spent 2 years polishing and perfecting it; we wanted to get it just right and we feel we have."
"If you want to experience firsthand just how compelling iOS gaming can be, all you have to do is play SPY mouse."
Firemint are saying that SPY Mouse builds on the intuitive line-drawing mechanics which were first seen in Flight Control, as you guide a mouse along similar hand-drawn paths.
SPY Mouse is available now on the app store for iPhone and iPod Touch for USD$0.99.
To sign-up for the completely free MCV Pacific News Digest email service, to be launched in October in conjunction with the new MCV Pacific website, please email email@example.com with your name, job title, company name, nature of your company’s business and the country in which you’re based.


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At the Hannover Messe trade fair in Germany today, Ultimaker released an expansion to its professional 3D printer portfolio with the new S5 3D printer – the first desktop machine the company has introduced in two years. But it’s a big week for the global 3D printing leader for another reason as well – the company is also in Fort Worth, Texas to attend RAPID + TCT this week.
In an effort to meet the continually growing demand for industrial-grade engineering materials that are compatible with its 3D printers, Ultimaker announced at RAPID today that it has joined collaborative alliances with several global material companies as part of a program to increase the amount of quality engineering composites and plastics that will work with its portfolio.
The companies that Ultimaker has partnered up with are:
“High quality 3D prints are the result of an optimized alignment of hardware, software and materials,” said Jos Burger, CEO of Ultimaker. “The strategic alliances formed with these global material companies opens up the use of the most sophisticated engineering plastics on Ultimaker printers, allowing the customers of the companies and Ultimaker to fully embed 3D printing in their existing workflows. With these alliances, more 3D printing users are getting access to sophisticated materials for all kinds of use cases in different segments and industries.”
3D printers are becoming increasingly popular for multiple applications in many different fields – according to the International Data Corporation (IDC), it’s expected that global spending on 3D printing technologies will reach almost $12 billion this year. A 3D printer is only as good as the material that’s used with it, which is why the need keeps rising for materials that are strong and durable enough to be used during the entirety of the product development cycle.For example, a large automobile manufacturer that makes most of its parts with a certain kind of plastic could save time and money by using the same material to 3D print prototypes, or even end-use parts on-demand.
For its part of the massive alliance program, Ultimaker will provide its leading Cura 3D printing software and materials knowledge so that its partner companies will be able to generate and maintain helpful material profiles. This will allow customers to successfully use the materials with Ultimaker’s 3D printers.
“The performance and reliability of Ultimaker 3D printers was key for us in the development of the XSTRAND composite filament. The reliable platform that the Ultimaker system provides enabled our team to efficiently develop high performance engineered solutions for this growing market,” said Dr. Chris Skinner, Director of Front End Innovation at Owens Corning. “We use these systems day in and day out to enable both our and our customers’ innovation.”
Using these new material profiles and pre-configured settings in Cura, which has over two million users worldwide, users will be able to 3D print parts automatically – no fuss, no muss.
“We want to make sport accessible to the many by delivering quality, technical products for the best price. The larger build volume of the Ultimaker S5 now enables us to 3D print prototypes for even more product types such as footwear and helmets and many others. Due to the open filament system we can print these objects with the materials we prefer – we can test, fail, and improve. We can change the way we prototype, the way we create. This allows us to speed up innovation and evaluate new concepts in an earlier stage, which reduces time and costs,” explained Julien Guillen, Leader of Additive Manufacturing at Decathlon’s Add Lab. “The Ultimaker S5, combined with Ultimaker Cura software, seamlessly fits in our development chain and the improved usability gives the Decathlon Add Lab’s team the power to deliver the right products for our users, at the right time.”
These new 3D printing material alliances that Ultimaker has formed will help the company open more doors for other advanced applications that are high in customer demand, as well as setting up a foundation for additional collaborations and partnerships in the future.
Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Business of Fashion Featured - Quynh Mai, Founder & CEO
PRESS MENTION: BLACK FRIDAY GAVE A BOOST TO MASS FASHION BRANDS, WHILE LUXURY AND STREETWEAR SAT OUT
Glossy Featured - Anthony Cospito, Head of Strategy
“Given the rise of mobile and the ability to now shop on social platforms like Instagram, consumers are less inclined than ever to participate in the Black Friday brick-and-mortar battle,” said Anthony Cospito, head of strategy at digital marketing agency Moving Image & Content. > READ ARTICLE
Glossy Featured - Quynh Mai, MI&C Founder
The design of the pop-up is aimed to appeal to young millennial and Gen-Z girls, Madden’s usual target audience, particularly those attracted to “the vibe and grittiness of New York City,” said Quynh Mai, founder of digital agency Moving Image & Content, which designed the pop-up. The pop-up asked five individual artists to interpret the perfumes, resulting in giant matchbooks, aluminum foil with light-pink hearts on the wall and more. A preview event on Friday will invite 70 (unpaid) influencers to create user-generated content, as well as provide the first reviews of the five scents on social.
“Knowing the marketing value of UGC content, we shifted away from a traditional ad campaign to spread our message authentically and organically through our audience,” Mai said. “Since fragrance itself is ephemeral, a two-day pop-up with an immersive installation co-created by five different artists seemed fitting.” > READ ARTICLE
Glossy Featured - Quynh Mai, MI&C Founder
Still, red tape and bureaucracy can create hurdles in making impactful changes within large-scale, traditional companies. Quynh Mai, founder of Moving Image and Content, said startups and direct-to-consumer brands have the biggest opportunity to make timely statements and create campaigns driving the conversion around topics like #MeToo. Companies like Everlane and Glossier, she said, have been particularly responsive to consumer feedback asking for increased inclusivity across the board, and have responded by diversifying their campaigns.
“What’s been really changing in the age of #MeToo is the shift of perspective. It’s an awareness of women being exploited, of things that were once societal norms that don’t link up anymore,” she said. > READ ARTICLE
Business Insider Featured - Quynh Mai, MI&C Founder
“Yeezy’s marketing approach is effective because it balances exclusivity (art, celebrities) alongside mass (Instagram, movie theaters). His campaigns are creative artistic expressions while his distribution strategies are mass,” Quynh Mai, founder of Moving Image & Content, the digital agency behind the official films created for the launch of Yeezy’s Season 1, 2, and 3 collections, told Business Insider. > READ ARTICLE
The Business of Fashion Featured - Quynh Mai, MI&C Founder
“Brands like Hermès with certain price points, the age of their consumers might have some more years where they can sit out because their consumers are not as interested in posting their social values online,” said Quynh Mai, founder of digital marketing firm Moving Image & Content.“But those days are numbered.” > READ ARTICLE
Meet the new breed of A.I. - By Anthony Cospito, head of strategy – MI&C
When a brand hires an influencer, what’s goes into the decision? An impressive follower base in the right demographic? Strong engagement and an authentic voice? Cross-over appeal with a top ten hit on Spotify? What if an influencer had all of the above – but just wasn’t quite human?
Meet Miquela, or @lilmiquela as she’s known on Instagram where she’s got a fan base 740k strong. What makes her stand out, besides her top ten hit on Spotify? Miquela is a computer animation. Looking closer you can see it. Overly-smoothed skin, eyes slightly askew and alien-esque.
Despite her lack of flesh and blood, she is just as active on social media as her real world peers, complete with a passion for brands like Chanel, Vans, Supreme and Proenza Schouler. The person behind Miquela however is quite real. She’s a 19 year old LA model, half Brazilian, half Spanish to be specific.
She’s inspired by contemporary artists like Carly Mark, Martine Syms and Kerry James. “In fashion, I look to Isamaya Ffrench, Raf Simons, Sies Marjan and Alexandre Vauthier. I also love Reese Blutstein,” Miquela said in a recent (chat-based) interview with Business of Fashion.
While all-too-real non-disclosure agreements prevent her from saying which brands she’s working with, in true influencer fashion she teases a hint, “I can tell you that I’ve been shot in Chanel, Moschino, Burberry, Versace and Fendi,” she said.
Although her actual name is unknown, @lilmiquela’s identity is everywhere. Vogue, Marie Claire, The Washington Post, and other publications are increasingly covering her. Real earned media, every bit of it.
In an recent Interview Magazine piece the artist behind the avatar said, “It’s an interesting time for reality, it’s being redefined by technology every day— fake news, fake body standards. Authenticity is a rare thing right now.” Miquela added another first to her list this week, she’s the only fictional it girl to ever team up with Prada.
According to Vogue, the luxury brand sees @lilmiquela as the perfect fit for the launch of their Instagram GIFs “featuring logos and prints from the Fall 2018 collection, including some, like the Spring 2010 flame shoe or Spring 2011 bananas, that nod to the Prada archive.”
One question remains. If the reach, authentic voice, and high engagement an influencer delivers are real, does it matter if the influencer isn’t?


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Unable to compete with large men’s clothing stores who offer quality merchandise at low prices, Jim Cramer on Wednesday noted that more and more family-run retailers are going out of business. The New York Times first reported on the trend last month.
With the demise of these mom-and-pop retailers, both Men’s Wearhouse and DSW are taking share. Both stocks are within striking distance of their 52-week highs.
The Men’s Wearhouse controls more than one-third of the tuxedo market and accounts for 22 percent of all domestic men’s clothing store sales, Cramer said. It averaged 7 percent same-store sales in its core brand and has grown earnings-per-share by an average of 48 percent over the last two years. The company has 1,049 stores in the U.S. under the Men’s Wearhouse, Men’s Wearhouse & Tux, and K&G brands, as well as another 117 stores in Canada under the Moore’s brand.
Meanwhile, DSW continues to take share from its competitors around the U.S. It has 328 stores in 40 states and operates in 341 leased department stores across the country. The company recently reported strong quarterly results that included a 5.6 increase in same-store sales.
“We have to accept the fact that places like Men’s Wearhouse and DSW are where people go when they want luxury at value prices,” Cramer said. “We may lament the loss of the family business, but let's celebrate the gains that these two gems can make for you as they annihilate the competition.”


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Despite fierce restaurant competition downtown, 5280 Burger Bar at Denver Pavillions has carved out some meaty territory since opening in 2014, drawing full houses from the surrounding offices, businesses and convention halls. But a new outpost, which opens on Thursday, August 17, at 4301 Main Street in Westminster, will rely on an entirely new customer base.
The stretch of West 120th Avenue at Sheridan Boulevard has matured into a magnet for shopping and dining, with a Whole Foods, GQue Championship Barbecue and other locally owned eateries bolstering the usual array of chain restaurants. The new burger bar gives the area something safe and comfortable while still offering a chef-driven menu and fresh ingredients. In addition to the restaurant side with its sports-bar vibe, 5280 also adds an attached ice cream shop with its own entrance, just like at the original location.
Executive chef Derek Baril was hired earlier this year and continues to add his own touches to the menu. A new item for the Westminster branch is an elk patty — available on any of the house burgers — that takes the place of the original's bison burger. Baril says close proximity to nearby farms means he'll be able to add seasonal specials to the roster. "I live about five blocks away," he adds, "so I consider this kind of my test kitchen."
So while the downtown burger bar keeps its offerings fairly constant, version 2.0 will give customers something new to look forward to on a regular basis. This month, it's a peach-marmalade burger oozing with brie and topped with Tender Belly bacon. Other new items include a lamb burger with harissa, lightly pickled cucumbers, feta cheese and Calabrian chile aioli. And as always, all of the burgers come on housemade buns.
The restaurant seats well over 100 guests, with an outdoor bar and patio that will hold an addional 36. Partner Don Redlinger says that he has also just purchased a food truck that will soon be hitting recreational sports fields and craft breweries to serve burgers and ice cream around Denver and the northwest suburbs.
5280 Burger Bar will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Redlinger notes that a "football brunch" will be added in time for the beginning of Broncos season and will include a new slate of more breakfast-oriented surprises.
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India Is A Huge Market and Growing, Are You Advising Your Customers to Consider India?
It is no hidden fact that India is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. It is one of the most favorite destinations for International firms wanting to expand their business in the Asia Pacific region. One of the main reasons being the up and coming reforms that are in favor of foreign investors willing to establish their foothold in the country. It is also becoming the hotbed for startups, with over 4,750 tech startups in the country, and this number is all set to reach 10,500 by 2020.
So, what makes India the crowd-puller? What are the factors that can potentially inspire worldwide companies to take an interest in the country?
Let’s look at the following pointers to get a better perspective.
McKinsey Global Institute estimates that by 2025, 69 cities in India will reach the population of more than one million each. This translates into opportunities for businesses, which will be needed to support the livelihoods of the populace. This should be one of the core incentives for companies to bring their products and services to the country.
According to data from the RBI, India has a foreign exchange reserve that was US$ 405.64 billion in the week up to March 15, 2019. Add to this, the Indian government’s measures to strengthen the infrastructure, initiatives like demonetization and implementation GST (Goods and Services Tax). All these things lead the nation’s revenue receipts to touch a whopping Rs. 28-30 trillion by 2019. This results in a favorable landscape to do business in the country.
Growing GDP Rates
India is the world’s sixth-largest economy, given its annual GDP growth rate, which is 7.5 percent at present. Moreover,the World Bank has stated that private investments in India are expected to grow by 8.8 percent in FY 2018-19 to overtake private consumption growth of 7.4 percent. This is set to drive the growth in India’s gross domestic product (GDP) in FY 2018-19.
In fact, India is expected to be one of the top three economic powers of the world in the next decade, based on strong democracy and partnerships. Its monetary policy and additional fiscal support can also help boost economic growth. This makes the country a top choice for conducting business.
A Thriving Consumer Market
India trails behind only the USA and China to become the third-largest consumer market. In fact, the consumer spending in the country is estimated to grow from USD 1.5 trillion to nearly USD 6 trillion by 2030, according to a World Economic Forum report. As per a different report by PWC, India can surpass the USA and become the second-largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP).This gives firms a level playing field for making the most of the consumption opportunity in India.
A Huge Labor Market
India boasts of a huge labor force. And the benefits don’t just stop at that. For any firm entering the Indian market, the decision is based on the comparatively cheaper labor costs, with a lower wage structure. Think of it this way, the minimum wage for contract workers in the country is USD 148 per month, whereas, in China, it comes to around USD 234 per month.
India also sees steady growth when it comes to the adoption of digital technologies.Digital India is powered by the steep rise in smartphone usage. Coupled with internet subscriptions, it can lead to significant economic growth in sectors such as electronics and manufacturing, digital communications, and IT BPM. The core digital sectors in the country constitute a large and a growing portion of the nation’s economy. This is a turning point for the country, and International firms can ride on the wave to derive maximum profits.
A Blooming FDI
According to IBEF, during 2018-19, India received the maximum FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) equity inflows from Singapore (US$ 16.23 billion), followed by Mauritius (US$ 8.08 billion), Netherlands (US$ 3.87 billion), USA (US$ 3.14 billion), and Japan (US$ 2.97 billion). Moreover, the report further stated that FDI to India grew by 6 percent to USD 42 billion in 2018.
FDI is not just a critical driver of economic growth, but it is also a significant source of non-debt financial resource. This rise in the FDI is also useful for the country to attain technical know-how and generate more employment.
For this purpose, the Indian government offers a favorable policy regime along with a robust business environment. This helps in keeping the flow of foreign capital intact in the country. Moreover, the government has also taken several initiatives recently, which includes relaxing FDI norms across various sectors. This works in enhancing the image of the country as an emerging nation for doing trade.
Growing Opportunities in the Exhibition Industry
An EY-EEMA (Event and Entertainment Management Association) report states that the events and activations industry in India is expected to cross Rs 10,000 crore mark by 2020-21. It also said that the organized sector would be able to touch 60% within 2-3 years.
With the Indian exhibition industry putting its best foot forward, several brands are seeking to participate in various upcoming trade shows, events, and trade fairs. Add to this, new venues, better infrastructures, and innovative thinking by the organizers, which emphasize the fact that India will retain this momentum for several years down the line.
Another plus point is the full-fledged involvement of Indian exhibition design agencies, which are quick adopters of the latest trends and are embracing digitization in their work methods. All these facts help international firms to showcase their products and services based on the unique needs of this growing country.
The Road Ahead
Considering such plethora of growing opportunities in India, International brands and agencies find exhibitions and trade shows as one of the primary options to get the pulse of the market, understand the consumer needs, get first-hand feedback on their products, and also connect with potential partners.
Having said that, participating in Indian exhibitions has its own nuances and challenges. One needs to consider cultural diversity and language barriers. Partnering with a local exhibition design agency is a desirable option for international agencies and brands as the exhibition stand design and build agencies can not only design a stand as per the brand’s marketing objectives but also take care of all the logistics and operational hassles.
What are your plans for India expansion?


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But between July and September, the auto sector once again started to end and the 1 percent increase in sales was seen in July-September 2020 as compared to July-September 2019. After which the auto sector companies took the initiative to start the process of increment and bonus of their employees once again. According to a report by our partner website Money Control English, during the Corona epidemic, some companies in the auto sector had voluntarily provided for a pay cut. In which the auto companies did not force any employee to take a pay cut. In such a situation, despite the economic downturn and the Karona epidemic, the auto sector has once again started the process of increasing the salary of its employees with the hope of better performance.
Also read: Driving License: Now make a driving license, train ticket and passport with immediate service, DL will be made at home.
Hyundai Motor India- Hyundai is the second largest car manufacturer in India. During the Corona epidemic, Hyundai did not cut salary of its employees. In such a situation, Hyundai is going to consider increasing the salary of employees after assessing their performance once again in February.
Bajaj Auto- The country’s leading two-wheeler manufacturer, Bajaj Auto, did not cut the salaries of its employees during the Corona epidemic. But during this time the process of promotion of the company was definitely affected. At the same time, Bajaj Auto executive director Rakesh Sharma said that, there has been a delay in the promotion of employees during Kovid, but Bajaj Auto kept the process of increment and bonus. In such a situation, we are trying our best to implement this process from April 1.
ALSO READ: Cheap and powerful compact SUV Renault Kiger to lift the curtain today, with great styling
JK Tire – JK Tire Chairman Raghupati Singhania said that during the Corona epidemic, the company implemented a voluntary wage cut process. In which 25 percent of the salary of the employees was deducted. Which the company has now withdrawn. He told that soon JK Tire is going to increase the salary of its employees.
Ceat Tire- Anant Goenka, managing director of Cek, a rival of JK Tire, reported that the company hired additional workers to meet the supply of tires in the Corona epidemic. For which the company gave good salary and bonuses to the employees.


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It was a drama-filled week with a hearing on the hill in DC about autonomous vehicle legislation, Uber tipped its hat to the past, EV startup Lucid started to lift the veil on its Air vehicle and more
In December, The New York Times reported a popular messaging app called ToTok was actually a spying tool used by the government of the United Arab Emirates to track users’ conversations, locatio
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is in Europe this week — attending a security conference in Germany over the weekend, where he spoke about the kind of regulation he’d like applied to his
Global smart speaker sales hit a record high last year with shipments of 146.9 million units, up 70% over 2018, according to a recent report on the state of the smart speaker market from Strategy Anal
Google said on Monday that it is winding down Google Station, a program that rolled out free Wi-Fi in more than 400 railway stations in India and “thousands” of other public places in seve
This week, we look at YouTube TV's decision to stop revenue-sharing with Apple, another mobile voting app with serious flaws, new Apple launches in coding and AR, and more.
Seed fundraising is rarely easy, but it certainly used to be a lot less complicated than it is today. In a simpler world, a seed investor (or maybe two) would lead a round, which meant that they would
The holy grail for technology companies working in the healthcare industry is becoming the gateway for all healthcare data. Big legacy providers like Epic and Cerner are trying to reach out to hospita
When Google announced that it was acquiring data analytics startup Looker for $2.6 billion, it was a big deal on a couple of levels. It was a lot of money and it represented the first large deal under
A new project called GameSnacks is launching today from Google’s in-house incubator, Area 120, with the goal of bringing fast-loading, casual online games to users in developing markets. Billion
While startup insurgents make a huge difference, big platforms may exert disproportionate influence over the future of AR.
If you’ve ever felt like there just weren’t enough emoji options to express how you’re feeling, a new addition to Google’s Gboard keyboard, launching today, aims to help. Gboar
Nigeria’s commercial hub of Lagos has shaken up its transportation order. At the center are the West African country’s motorcycle taxis — referred to locally as okadas — which face new
The engineers behind Google’s short-lived Bookbot — a robot created within the company’s Area 120 incubator for experimental products — have launched their own startup to bring the sid
Robotics, AI and automation are the future of business. This much seemingly everyone can agree on. Finding the resources to implement these technologies, on the other hand, is a different question ent
Google Nest, the smart home brand for Google’s line of smart speakers, thermostats, smoke detectors and more, announced this morning that it will soon require all Nest users to enroll in two-fac
Google’s head of human resources is resigning, the company announced today. Google said Eileen Naughton, who joined Google in 2006 and became its vice president of people operations four years a
Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the Extra Crunch series that recaps the latest OS news, the applications they support and the money that flows through it all. The app industry is as hot as ever wi
To find out which measures can yield better results, we must first understand the real reasons. We can then look at potential solutions by studying what we do in the real world to tackle such biases.
Apple has throttled the competition in another category. During the company’s recent earnings call, CEO Tim Cook noted the company’s wearable division now rivals the size of a Fortune 500 company.


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As Coronavirus outbreaks continue to spread worldwide, consumers and businesses are turning to the internet for their personal and business needs. In our heavily digital world, this is a logical next...
Mar 27, 2020
Migrating workloads to public cloud environment opens up organizations to a slate of new, cloud-native attack vectors which did not exist in the world of premise-based data centers. In this new...
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Every day we see new headlines about Coronavirus: Thousands more diagnosed, temperature checks on airplanes, subways and even in grocery stores, the World Health Organization (WHO) holding press...
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Flexibility and elasticity are top priority to corporates in the age of digital transformation with IT being no exception. From the perspective of IT, virtualization and cloud computing have become...
Jan 16, 2020
More than 70% of websites now use SSL encryption. The Google Transparency Report statistics below show a very rapid rise in adoptions of HTTPS for Chrome browser users worldwide. Unfortunately, the...
Jan 09, 2020
Modern applications are difficult to secure. Whether they are web or mobile, custom developed or SaaS-based, applications are now scattered across different platforms and frameworks. To accelerate...
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Businesses are looking to optimize and accelerate their Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), in order to improve their operational efficiency and gain a competitive edge. Service mesh is the...
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The healthcare industry is a prime target of hackers. According to Radware’s 2018-2019 Global Application and Network Security Report, healthcare was the second-most attacked industry after the...
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Companies are more connected to their customers now than ever before. After spending billions to digitally transform themselves, organizations have exponentially increased the number of touchpoints...
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Global organizations stand on a cyber-security precipice. Emerging technologies, such as blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), along with the explosive volume of...
Jan 02, 2018


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A £130m vision for a major new city centre shopping complex has been branded "naive" by the developers of a rival retail scheme at Kingswood.
The city council hopes the proposed Albion Square development at the site of the empty BHS and Edwin Davis department stores will boost the city centre's fortunes.
It has recently reached agreement to buy the derelict buildings on the site and intends to demolish them next year.
At the same time, the authority will start the search for a private development partner and submit an outline planning application for a complex featuring shops, apartments, a new ice rink and a multi-storey car park.
But the developers behind plans to extend Kingswood's retail park say they doubt the current vision for Albion Square will attract private sector interest.
Speaking at a public inquiry into an appeal against the council's decision to reject the Kingswood scheme, barrister Chris Katkowski said: "It will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the council to find a private sector partner to take forward a scheme of the type aspired by the council.
"There is no evidence to the contrary. On this basis alone, a mixed-use scheme on Albion Square of the type wishes for is highly unlikely to be delivered."
Mr Katkowski, who represented the Kingswood Parks development company, added: "Even if a private sector partner can be found, the evidence is that a mixed-use scheme on the site for reasons of commercial world realities would not end up with a retail element closely similar to the (Kingswood) appeal scheme.
He claimed the potential space for retail units mapped out in a council brochure promoting Albion Square were "poorly conceived and unattractive" being too narrow, lacking servicing areas or fronting onto Bond Street and Waltham Street.
"In sum, while the council may genuinely aspire to provide the proposed quantum of retail, its preferred scheme is naive in the extreme.
"It necessarily follows that the the marketing brochure plans would not be delivered.
"In summary, Albion Square in the real world would not end up delivering development with a retail element closely similar to what we propose."
During this week's inquiry, the council has argued Albion Square and a proposed revamp of the Myton Street retail park in the city centre should take priority over any extra shops and restaurants being allowed in Kingswood.
The £32m extension of the Kingswood retail park would feature ten new shops and restaurants, creating up to 250 jobs.
Mr Katkowski said neither city centre site should be prioritised ahead of the Kingswood scheme.
"The truth of the matter is that the 'investments' at Albion Square and Myton Street are in their earliest stages.
"Although the council has spent and is spending money on assembling the (Albion Square) site and soft market testing it, the council would only plan to invest in the actual delivery of a scheme if and when it finds a private sector partner and if as and when it better understands how much public money would need to the invested to deliver the scheme and resolves to spend it.
"None of this has happened yet and may never happen. In no sensible use of English language could Albion Square be characterised as planned investment."
Independent planning inspector Robert Mellor is expected to deliver his verdict on the appeal early in the New Year.


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News, tips and fun stuff for savvy Houston parents.
Monthly Archive for December, 2008
Nick de la Torre: Chronicle Last year’s tree lighting was pretty spectacular. This year will be just as spectacular, but more energy efficient. It’s a green December in Houston this year as Mayor Bill White will be lighting the official holiday tree with energy-saving lights for the first time. The annual “Mayor’s Holiday Celebration”, a […] [Read More]
One way to save money is to buy in bulk. Here’s how to create a stockpile of food and household items without going crazy. 1. Identify the items you would like to stockpile. Some examples are toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, deodorant, laundry detergent, facial tissue, shampoo, conditioner, razors, frozen foods and canned foods. 2. […] [Read More]
mercooley27: chron.commons Cooley Kids Santa Photo 2002. Every other day of the year we would caution our children to be wary of the stranger with a beard offering candy and presents. But come Christmas time, we plop them on the big guy’s lap and encourage them to tell the man what they want. Sometimes it […] [Read More]
A general theme running through this 6-week series on the realities of parenting teens is that parents need to talk to their kids about sex and they need to start early. For many kids puberty begins around age nine, and according to the data collected from the National Center for Health Statistics, a quarter of […] [Read More]
The winner of My Kid best of November is seriously cute… seriously. BadPixie: chron.commons Serious. Congrats to BadPixie and her handsome son! Remember to keep uploading photos of your cute kids in the My Kid gallery. Every month MomHouston readers vote for their favorite photo and the kid(s) whose photo wins will be sent a […] [Read More]
It’s post-Thanksgiving and the buttons are flying off the pants of the over-stuffed everywhere. This week’s recall roundup cautions parents to watch out for the snaps flying off these infant pants. CPSC The girl’s pants have frilly hems. CPSC The boy’s pants do not, but the snaps on both can come off. If the snaps […] [Read More]


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Anaheim, Calif. – Registration for AVB/Brand Source’s
upcoming Spring Summit has exceeded last year’s attendance levels, the
$14-billion buying group reported.
Based on registration patterns, turnout for the biannual meeting
and buy fair could surpass 2009 attendance by the double digits, Brand Source
said. The show, which runs in tandem with the group’s Home Entertainment Source
(HES) A/V specialty division meeting, will be held March 27-31 at the Hilton
Anatole Hotel in Dallas.
Highlights of the event will include appearances by Carter
Oosterhouse, host of the HGTV cable network series “Carter Can,” and rising country
music artist Krista Marie.
Oosterhouse will help unveil a new HGTV Green Home mattress
collection by Serta, a Brand Source exclusive. “The name of the game is foot
traffic, and we have huge plans to leverage the power of the Serta, HGTV and
Brand Source brands to drive traffic to our stores,” said Bob Lawrence, the
buying group’s CEO. “Our members will benefit from a series of national print,
online and television ads directing consumers to their local Brand Source
Marie, whose tune “Drive It Like I Stole It” was ESPN’s theme
song for the 2009 NHRA drag race season, will perform live for Spring Summit
In other Brand Source news, driver Ashley Force Hood’s Ronald
McDonald House-themed NHRA Mustang funny car will be auctioned next week at the
Annual World of Wheels event in Rosemont, Ill.,
with all proceeds going to the charity. Hood, who is sponsored by the buying
group, raced the charity Mustang in two events during the 2009 Full Throttle
Drag Racing Series.
“I was thrilled to be able to help raise awareness and donations
for the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Seattle
said Force Hood. “Brand Source, one of our major sponsors, is very involved
with this organization and their president Bob Lawrence started talking with us
about getting involved in early 2009. We got really excited about all the
opportunities to help so this program came together very quickly.”
AVB is a member-owned
and managed merchandising group that provides buying and merchandising services
for more than 4,500 retailers across the country. Its Brand Source branding
program leverages the group’s 7,500 storefronts into a national chain of retailers
to maintain top-of-mind recognition among consumers searching for appliances,
electronics and furniture.
- 2019 TWICE Top 100: Watch List - May 23, 2019
- 2019 TWICE Top 100: Consumer-Direct Sales Dominate The Charts - May 22, 2019
- 2019 TWICE Top 100: Best Buy Keeps The CE Crown, But Barely - May 21, 2019


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Ray White Marine Market Overview
According to one of the best in the business, more and more Australians will be landing and cruising the spectacular destinations that surround the sun-scorched country in ever larger and more luxurious superyachts.
Ray White Marine Sales Director Brock Rodwell spoke to Iolande Skinner From The Deck at the 2022 Sydney International Boat Show to discuss the recent boom in the global superyacht market.
He said the industry is seeing an increase in sales and therefore a shortage of suitable berths for ever larger superyachts in Australia.
Based at Marina Mirage on the Gold Coast, Ray White Marine’s presence was well seen at the salon with a stylish two-storey floating reception area set up to welcome guests. It also hosted one of the most popular Saturday night parties.
The brokerage firm had a number of boats on display including the Ferretti 720, Ferretti 780, Pershing, a Technorama tender, Itama and one of the stars of this year’s boat show, a Tiffany & Co inspired Rivamare 38 by Riva. There was also a Rolls Royce Ghost Black badge for those lacking automotive skills. It’s the only example of the car on Australian shores, attracting a lot of interest and even bids.
Brock noted that international superyacht buyers are starting to look to Australia for their next project as wait times for European and North American builds increase. The market for Australian-built boats is booming and, as Brock pointed out, some used boats such as Pershings and Rivas are more valuable.
Ray White Marine’s affiliation with Ferretti and Riva Yachts and well-established brand strength saw them join the Riva Aquarama lounge at the 2022 Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix. It was another successful marketing exercise for Riva, known as one of the hottest brands in yachting today, which is also a major sponsor of the Ferrari Formula 1 team.
Brock predicts that superyacht builders will continue to innovate and improve their green credentials in the future, although he said he believes there will be a correction from the high sales seen during the pandemic when people were buying yachts over A$10 million without seeing them.
Speaking at the 2022 Sydney International Boat Show, Brock said he saw multihulls and fuel efficiency not only as emerging trends, but also as industry-defining changes in sales. Due solely to rising costs, many yacht buyers are looking for more efficient vessels that can go further.
I think volume and range are the two things, people want to feel at home and interior space is mainly very important, as well as distance traveled. We used to sell sporty, sleek cruisers that could go 45 knots and chew 1,000 liters an hour. People are more aware of their consumption and they want to know how far and how long they can comfortably go.
Brock Rodwell, Ray White Marine Sales Manager
The savvy sales manager took presenter Iolande for a tour of the Rivamare 38, Ferretti 720 and Ferretti 780 during the show. Stay tuned for presentation videos coming soon.
Ray White Marine is the exclusive stockist for the Ferretti Group range of brands including Riva, Wally, Pershing, Itama, CRN and Custom Line. Its Global Sales and Marketing Director, Allesandro Tirelli, traveled all the way from Italy and spoke with Iolande Skinner From The Deck of the Market Herald Fancy Nautica about the changing market for large yachts and opportunities in Australia.


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Mumbai: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the UK subsidiary of Tata Motors Ltd, expects new model launches and brisk growth in luxury car markets in emerging markets such as China and Russia to compensate for the decline in sales in UK and Europe, said Kenneth Gregor, chief financial officer.
Tata Motors acquired JLR from Ford Motor Co. in June 2008.
Gregor said in a conference call with analysts on Thursday that JLR has received close to 18,000 bookings for the Range Rover Evoque, which goes on sale in September in the UK. The new Jaguar XF, also being launched in the same month, will boost sales as well, he added. The margin contribution from the Evoque is expected to be better than the Free Lander but less than the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, he added. The company plans to hire 2,000 temporary employees to help in production of the Evoque.
Adverse foreign exchange and Evoque related costs would impact JLR’s first-quarter earnings, eroding margins by 160 basis points to 13.4% over last year, Emkay Research analyst Chirag Shah wrote in a 29 July report. One basis point is one hundredth of a percentage point.
JLR benefited from favourable foreign exchange changes to the tune of GBP 200 million in fiscal 2011.
In the three months to June, JLR’s sales in China expanded 36% to 9,900 units from 6,300 units a year ago. Encouraged by the response, JLR plans to double its outlets from 50 to 100 in China by the end of 2011. Sales in Russia went up to 3,600 units from 2,300 units in the same period last year.
“The growth in Chinese luxury market will continue for JLR and rest in the current year, but they need to brace themselves for the next year, as we expect moderation in demand,” said Ashvin Chotai, London-based auto analyst. “They cannot continue to grow at the same pace.”
During the quarter, Jaguar’s sales fell 10% to 12,600 units while that of Land Rover went up 12% to 50,700 units, against the same period a year ago. Jaguar sales, Gregor said, were dragged down by twin factors – economic weakness in the UK and Europe and the phase-out of the XF ahead of the new model. He expects Jaguar sales to pick up as the new model reaches dealers next month.


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The famous and notorious sisters have come out with another money fetching campaign.
Kim , Khloe Kardashian, Kylie and Kendall Jenner are now offering fans an even deeper look into their lives by new personal media apps and websites, which launched today.
Each sister had a hand in designing the theme, color scheme and subject of her app’s personalized content, which the ladies (Kim, Kylie, Khloe and mom Kris Jenner) previewed over an eight-course dinner at Nobu Malibu on Sept. 1.
The apps, provided through tech and media company Whalerock Industries, will give paying subscribers access to the girls’ behind-the-scenes videos, tutorials, diaries and tips, and will also enable users to follow their whereabouts, ask them questions and sign up for events and giveaways.
In addition to the apps, the brand-new websites KimKardashianWest.com, khloewithak.com, thekyliejenner.com and kendallj.com will offer a mix of free and exclusive subscriber content.
Kourtney Kardashian’s app and website will be next to come.
Photos below: –
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text: The Vidius drone is great for people who don't want to deal with the FAA registration requirement. Pilots can stream a live video feed from the drone via WiFi, though it has a flight time of just five to seven minutes on a 20-minute USB charge. Vidius comes with a 2.4 gHz controller, and users can pilot it with a smartphone or tablet as well. Vidius is up for pre-order now with a ship date of January 29th at the latest. It's on sale for $75 before January 7th; afterwards, it'll be $95.


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Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) July 13, 2012
Broach Sports Tours will be on the Carolina Panthers’ bandwagon this year with exciting travel packages to Panthers road games.
President Tom Broach said that he expects immense interest in this year’s team because of a young core of players led by quarterback Cam Newton, last year’s NFL Rookie of the Year.
“This is clearly the most excitement there has been for the Panthers going into a season since the Super Bowl year of 2003-04,” Broach said. “Cam Newton brings an energy that makes this team so much fun to watch. It’s not being too optimistic to think this year’s team could make it back in the playoffs.
“On top of that, this is a very attractive road schedule this year with trips to Chicago, Washington and San Diego in addition to the traditional NFC South rivals. So we have some fantastic trips lined up for fans not only in Charlotte, but all over the Carolinas and throughout the country.”
Packages to each game include airfare, two nights hotel accommodations, game ticket, ground transportation, pregame tailgate party, Broach Sports Tour hosts and more.
The lone exception is the trip to San Diego in December, which has an extra day added on to make it four days and three nights. That trip, from Dec. 14-17, is available for $1075 per person double occupancy.
Among the other trips are:
- Panthers at Washington (Nov. 2-4) for $695 per person double occupancy for air travel and $495 per person double occupancy for motorcoach travel from Charlotte.
- Panthers at Chicago (Oct. 27-29) for $749 per person double occupancy.
- Panthers at Kansas City (Dec. 1-3) for $744 per person double occupancy.
- Panthers at New Orleans (Dec. 29-31) for $795 per person double occupancy.
- Panthers at Atlanta (Sept. 29-30) by motorcoach only and one night’s hotel accommodations for $269 per person double occupancy.
There will be no scheduled trip for the Panthers’ Monday night game at Philadelphia on Nov. 26.
Broach Sports Tours also offers tickets to all Panthers home games, starting as low as $30. The home schedule consists of New Orleans (Sept. 16), the New York Giants (Sept. 20), Seattle (Oct. 7), Dallas (Oct. 21), Denver (Nov. 11), Tampa Bay (Nov. 18), Atlanta (Dec. 9) and Oakland (Dec. 23).
Broach Sports Tours, based in Charlotte, has been an industry leader in sports and travel packages since 1995. It specializes in football travel packages, baseball travel packages, tennis travel packages and golf travel packages.
For more information, contact Melanie Hicks at 800-849-6345 or visit http://www.broachsportstours.com.


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Elastic: Fiscal 4Q Earnings Snapshot
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) _ Elastic NV (ESTC) on Wednesday reported a loss of $34.8 million in its fiscal fourth quarter.
On a per-share basis, the Mountain View, California-based company said it had a loss of 48 cents. Losses, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 28 cents per share.
The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 29 cents per share.
The software developer posted revenue of $80.6 million in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $75.5 million.
For the current quarter ending in August, Elastic expects its results to range from a loss of 44 cents per share to a loss of 42 cents per share.
The company said it expects revenue in the range of $82 million to $84 million for the fiscal first quarter.
Elastic expects full-year results to range from a loss of $1.49 per share to a loss of $1.33 per share, with revenue ranging from $397 million to $403 million.


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LONDON, July 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- TIGA, the network for video games developers and digital publishers and the trade association representing the video games industry, today released new data showing that over the last five years the focus of UK studios has moved away from mobile towards other platforms. In the year to November 2018, 40 per cent of UK studios were primarily focused on mobile, down from 49 per cent in 2013.
TIGA also released the following new information:
- PC (comprising retail and online PC games, social network games and massively multiplayer online games) was the primary platform category of choice for 36 per cent of UK studios (up from 34 per cent in 2013).
- Console platforms (comprising console and handheld retail and download categories) remains mostly confined to larger studios with 15 per cent of UK studios focused on developing for these platforms (compared to 16 per cent in 2013).
- VR/AR is the primary focus of 8 per cent of studios (up from 2 per cent in March 2016).
- The console category remains the largest employer of development staff by far, representing 47 per cent of developer and publisher studios' creative staff. PC accounts for 26 per cent of development staff, mobile represents 22 per cent and VR/AR 4 per cent. Console's dominance of development staff numbers reflects the UK's long and successful history as one of the leading console games development nations, new opportunities as consoles upgrade or launch mid-cycle and the substantially higher average budgets and team sizes necessary for console games development.
TIGA CEO Dr Richard Wilson, OBE, said:
"Mobile remains the most popular platform for UK games studios, but the proportion of UK development studios focused primarily on this category fell from 49 per cent in 2013 to 40 per cent in 2018. Mobile's allure has faded to some degree because the App stores are flooded with games, leading to huge discoverability and competitive challenges.
"PC remains in second place, with 36 per cent of studios adopting it as their primary platform choice. The PC market is relatively less competitive than mobile: for example, Steam houses approximately 30,000 titles versus over 800,000 on iOS alone. The appeal of PC for developers has also been strengthened by the increasing competition in the PC distribution market between Steam, Epic's Game Store, Discord and Kongregate's Kartridge store. This competition is lowering costs for PC developers.
"14 per cent of UK studios are focused mainly on console development. This category remains the largest employer of development staff by a long chalk, employing nearly half of all UK development staff. This confirms the UK's well established reputation as one of the leading console games development nations and the significantly higher resources and teams required for console games development.
"The popularity of Virtual and Augmented Reality amongst UK studios has increased markedly over the last three years. 8 per cent of all UK studios are now focused on VR and AR, up from just 2 per cent in 2016."
Jason Kingsley OBE, CEO and Creative Director at Rebellion, which develops games for mobile, PC, console and VR platforms, commented:
"The UK developers can create games for an increasingly wide choice of platforms. Different platforms bring different challenges. It is relatively easy to develop games for mobile, but the market is highly competitive and discoverability is difficult. PC and console provide greater opportunities to build stable businesses, but the cost of game development is higher in comparison to mobile. VR and AR attract significant media attention and investment, but the degree of consumer demand is uncertain. It will be fascinating to see how UK developers create content and build businesses around these different platforms."
TIGA's data and information on PC, mobile, console and VR/AR is based on research with Games Investor Consulting (GIC). GIC continuously maintains a database of all extant, closed and exiting British games companies including all verified discrete independent and publisher-owned games development studios. It counts as a single studio all entities with holding/parent, sister and subsidiary companies that do not represent separate development concerns. It excludes companies in the process of being liquidated as well as any company that uses games-related Standard Industrial Codes (SIC) codes but which either are demonstrably not in games (e.g. are gambling or board gaming businesses) or cannot be verified from their published company profiles as operating in games development. Between September-November 2018, TIGA and GIC conducted an email and telephone survey of British games companies involved in the development of games including studios, publishers, service companies and broadcasters with games divisions. Distribution, manufacturing, peripheral device, marketing and retail companies were not profiled. Companies were asked how many staff worked full time in development or in roles supporting development. HR, admin, sales, marketing and commercial staff were excluded. GIC takes the latest data on development headcount to scale total development expenditure, and then uses current ONS economic data and Oxford Economics' calculations from their report, "The economic contribution of the UK Games Development industry," to establish estimates of the development industry's GDP and tax impact.
TIGA is the network for games developers and digital publishers and the trade association representing the video games industry. Since 2010, TIGA has won 28 business awards and commendations and has been successfully accredited as an Investors in People organisation four times. TIGA focuses on three sets of activities:
- Political representation
- Media representation
- Business services
This enhances the competitiveness of our members by providing benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities. It also means our members' voices are heard in the corridors of power and positively represented in national, broadcast and UK video games trade media.
Get in touch:


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Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
Updated on Monday, April 13, 2020
Quantitative easing effectively pumps money into the economy in an effort to encourage lending and borrowing. As the United States deals with the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus pandemic, quantitative easing is one of the levers the Federal Reserve is pulling to help stabilize the fragile state of the American economy.
What is quantitative easing?
A monetary policy first introduced in the U.S. in 2008, quantitative easing is a way that the Federal Reserve can give a boost to a fragile economy by increasing its money supply. To inject that needed liquidity, the Federal Reserve will typically make large-scale purchases of different types of government bonds — mainly Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities — from the open market, thus flooding financial markets with liquidity.
Typically, the main lever the Federal Reserve pulls when the economy needs a jolt is adjusting the federal funds rate. To boost spending and flush cash into a crippling economy, the Federal Reserve can cut the federal funds rate, which makes economic activity — like taking out a mortgage or purchasing a car — cheaper for consumers. In some cases, though, cutting the key interest rate is not a big enough boost for a drowning economy, which is when quantitative easing comes into play.
“The federal funds rate, the main policy tool, is now near zero — it can be cut a bit further, but not much,” said Harald Uhlig, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago. “Lower interest rates make liquidity cheaper and thus inject liquidity into the system, but with rates almost as low as they can go, additional tools such as quantitative easing are needed to inject needed liquidity.”
How does quantitative easing help the economy?
When the Federal Reserve purchases bonds from banks, they are essentially increasing the money supply that’s available in the economy.
The idea is that the banks — now flush with cash from the Federal Reserve’s large-scale purchasing of bonds — will offer lower rates to consumers and businesses that are looking to borrow, thus expanding lending opportunities and encouraging borrowing. Lower interest rates make it more affordable for consumers and businesses to borrow and spend money on large purchases like mortgages and cars. That type of spending in turn stimulates the economy.
Meanwhile, as the law of supply and demand dictates, when the supply of money goes up, its value goes down. Keeping the value of currency low makes stocks more attractive to foreign investors — spurring investing — while also often makes exports cheaper.
How the Fed is using quantitative easing during the coronavirus pandemic
As the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on the financial markets, the Federal Reserve has stepped in and deployed quantitative easing on a massive scale. On March 15, the agency announced a $700 billion quantitative easing program to help insulate the economy from the damage done by the pandemic. The quantitative easing was expected to take the form of purchasing $500 billion worth of Treasuries and $200 billion of agency-backed mortgage securities.
On March 23, however, the Federal Reserve upped the ante. The agency announced that it would instead purchase an unlimited amount of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities, and that it would buy assets “in the amounts needed.”
“People are concerned that they [the Federal Reserve] don’t have any ammunition left, and that’s right and that’s wrong,” said Allison Schrager, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research in New York City. “I don’t know if they have much ammunition to, say, stimulate the economy, but they certainly have enough ammunition to keep the financial markets functioning.”
To keep those financial markets stable and functioning, Schrager explains, the Federal Reserve is buying up bond assets.
“It is a real danger that those markets that are already having irregularities could completely freeze up, or rates could just jump at such a high level, that people cannot borrow in the way that they really need to now,” she said. “So that’s what they’re doing, is sort of putting a lot of liquidity into those markets, so that they continue to function. So they’re not so much stimulating demand or stimulating the economy, but they’re keeping financial markets functioning.”
How the Fed’s use of quantitative easing can help consumers
Tendayi Kapfidze, the chief economist at LendingTree, acknowledges that the Federal Reserve’s latest policies will not completely alleviate the economic challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic. However, he says that it will enable consumers, companies and municipalities to better deal with the crisis and emerge on the other side in a position to participate in the economy once it recovers.
“Consumer financial markets should continue to function seamlessly. The Fed’s liquidity support means that the cost of credit should decrease,” Kapfidze said. “Consumers should take advantage of this by evaluating their debt profile and looking for opportunities to save.”
He noted that while a mortgage refinance is an obvious opportunity to explore, most types of consumer debt can be refinanced. For example, you could use a balance transfer or personal loan to refinance an existing credit card, or you could replace an auto loan with another auto loan or home equity loan.
Kapfidze acknowledged that “with so many moving parts, not every financial institution will react immediately or to the same extent,” though. “It’s more important than ever that consumers shop around and find themselves the best deal,” he added. “Doing so could save you thousands and help you weather this economic storm.”
Was quantitative easing successful in 2008?
The Federal Reserve first rolled out quantitative easing measures to help save a crippling American economy in 2008. Between 2008 and 2014, the Federal Reserve bought a whopping $3.7 trillion in bonds from financial markets.
Since that initial rollout, the Federal Reserve’s use of quantitative easing — and whether it worked — has been the subject of many debates. Quantitative easing has been widely criticized for essentially being a quick fix for deeper-rooted problems — like putting a Band-Aid over a deep wound — and critics have argued over the monetary policy’s overall effectiveness.
Common critiques and concerns of the use of quantitative easing include:
- The risk of inflation and bubbles. One common argument held by many critics is that a flood of cash can actually drive prices up, by causing inflation as demand outpaces supply.
- Devaluing of currency. While a cheaper dollar makes exports cheaper and attracts foreign investors, it also has downsides, like hurting the import industry.
- Doesn’t help the local economy. Many have questioned whether quantitative easing actually accomplishes what it’s set out to do, which is to help the local economy. Instead, critics argue that it benefits the wealthy who own the assets the government is buying up, exacerbating wealth inequality.
While quantitative easing is largely agreed to be a controversial monetary policy – and its overall effectiveness is often up for debate – many economists still agree that in response to the 2008 financial crisis, quantitative easing was an overall effective tool in lowering long-term lending rates.


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Co-founder of Zynga, Justin Waldron will be moving on to pursue other business ventures after six years with the company.
Along with co-founders Eric Schiermeyer and Mark Pincus, Waldron started Zynga which has become a huge contender on the social gaming scene.
Waldron posted the following on his Facebook page:
“I’ve decided it’s time to leave Zynga and venture off on my own again. It’s been six-and-a-half years since we pushed the button to launch our first game, and each moment since has been magic.
“It’s incredibly humbling to have worked with such a talented team. I am grateful to have had the chance to help build a company that touched so many people.”


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Middle classes flock to pound shop Dealz
The economic squeeze has prompted more posh mums to head to the discount retailer Dealz – with more than one in five of those with the highest disposable income now shopping in the store.
About 22 per cent of those shopping in Dealz are among those with the highest disposable incomes in Ireland, compared with 15 per cent when the retailer first launched two years ago, according to a customer analysis by Dealz.
"We're seeing a universal appeal across all socio-economic groups," said Jim McCarthy, chief executive of Dealz. "People with less disposable income are shopping with us – and people with more disposable income are looking for value. We've now become part of the weekly shop." Most of its products are priced at €1.49.


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Interstate Bakeries emerges from bankruptcy
- Suzanna Stagemeyer
- Staff Writer
Interstate Bakeries Corp. on Tuesday emerged from four and a half years of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
This was just days before the Feb. 9 deadline when Kansas City-based IBC’s debtor-in-possession financing was to mature and its exit financing commitments were to expire.
The maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread said in a release after the market closed on Tuesday that it had wrapped up financing to emerge from bankruptcy as a stand-alone company.
IBC had financing commitments from IBC Investors I LLC, an affiliate of private equity firm Ripplewood Holdings LLC, which was to provide $130 million of capital — $44.2 million for 4.42 million shares and $85.8 million in new fourth-lien convertible secured notes. Other commitments were for a $125 million revolving loan with General Electric Capital Corp. and GE Capital Markets Inc. and a $344 million term loan-secured credit facility with Silver Point Finance LLC and Monarch Master Funding Ltd.
“Today marks a new beginning for Interstate Bakeries,” CEO Craig Jung said in the release. “We are now a stronger and more competitive company. With this period behind us, we can now unleash and empower 22,000 IBC employees to better serve our consumers and customers, revitalize our core brands and launch product innovation that will profitably grow our business.”
IBC’s financing looked to be in jeopardy as recently as last month, when the company hired a law firm to help enforce its exit financing commitments . But on Jan. 26, IBC said it had reached an agreement in principle with GE Capital Corp. for a credit facility and was working to finalize terms . A bankruptcy judge approved the agreement with GE Capital on Jan. 29 .
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The rise is part of a smooth trajectory upward, with retail spending up a seasonally-adjusted 0.5 percent on May 2015. This follows an increase of 1.3 percent in May.
“Spending rose in four of the six retail industries,” business indicators manager Neil Kelly says. “Fuel spending had the largest rise, returning to the levels seen before the price falls of late last year. The rise in fuel was partially offset by falls in apparel and durables spending.”
However, excluding vehicle-related industries, core retail spending was flat in June 2015, following a rise of just 0.4 percent in May.
The total value of electronic card spending, including the two non-retail industries (services and other non-retail), rose 0.6 percent. This rise follows a 1.4 percent rise in May 2015.
Statistics New Zealand says trends for the total, retail, and core retail series have generally been rising since it began reports in October 2002.


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Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson, spotted together many a time recently, have been turning out to be the in-demand topic lately. Not long ago, Kim and Pete were on holiday to the Bahamas.
The socialite once again became the talk of the town after she shared a bikini selfie from her Bahamas holiday on Instagram. Let's look at what outfits Kim Kardashian lunged for when she met Pete Davidson.
Kim Kardashian's outfits while meeting Pete Davidson
1) Kim and Pete held hands in Palm Springs
Kim Kardashian was seen holding hands with Pete Davidson in Palm Springs, LA. They trod out in California as part of the latter's birthday.
Kim kept her outfit minimalist with a white tank top and pastel lavender joggers. Meanwhile, Pete carried a solid black t-shirt with brown and black checkered loose pajamas.
2) Kim back from vacay with Pete
After the three-day vacay in the Bahamas, the duo landed in California via their private jet. Kim was dressed in a black tank top with a plunging neckline along with ripped black jeans. Pete wore a casual varsity jacket with a cream-colored hoodie and matching shorts.
3) Kim and Pete in Giorgio Baldi
Kim and Pete were glimpsed as they stepped out of the Giorgio Baldi, an Italian restaurant in Santa Monica. For her dinner date, the former chose an all-black ensemble, including a solid black top and skinny leather pants.
Other add-ons included a black cap and black boots. For accessorizing, Kardashian held a white baguette. Along with Kim, Pete wore a solid pastel green t-shirt with blue jeans, topping it up with a tie-dye grey and black jacket.
4) Kim and Pete at Knott's Scary Farm
Kim and Pete were spotted in Knott's Scary Farm in Buena Park, California. The Reality TV star was in an all-black outfit with a hood, which she put up earlier when starting with her Halloween ride. Kim had a lot of fun with Pete and her friends that night.
Beyond all fashion rules, Kardashian has always been a trendsetter. Whether it is garish couture or regular solids, she flaunts it all in an unforeseen fashion, and the 41-year-old's outfits are such that most people look forward to them.


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NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Construction of a RaceTrac gas station and convenience store near the State Road 44 interchange with Interstate 95 exit is moving right along and is expected to be open for business by the end of this year.
The Atlanta-based chain is in the process of building a 20-pump station with 35 parking spaces for its nearly 5,500-square-foot convenience store at 3000 State Road 44.
"This new RaceTrac location will be our new store prototype, featuring a Swirl World frozen dessert station with up to 10 flavors and 41 toppings and a large coffee area," RaceTrac spokesperson Liz McIntyre wrote in an email. "These new stores also have a more shoppable layout, ample seating, free Wi-Fi and more lighting in the store and parking lot to deliver a better guest experience."
RaceTrac Petroleum Inc. has a growing presence in Volusia County.
"We have opened three stores in Volusia County since January 2016 and are excited to continue to grow our presence in the county," McIntyre said, adding the company has 12 locations and another in Daytona Beach at 2087 LPGA Blvd., also expected to be completed by the tail end of the fourth quarter.
McIntyre said the store is one of at least six the chain has opened or plans to open since the beginning of 2016. Construction of another station on State Road 44 near Kepler Road in DeLand is in question after local residents opposed it and Volusia County staff recommended denial at a Planning and Land Development Regulation Commission meeting in June. The commission said at the time it intends to hear the case at its September meeting.
While some interstate exits to the north are layered with gas stations and convenience stores, the State Road 44 exit has been slower to develop those sites.
"This gas station will get the beachgoing traffic that comes off Interstate 4 (from the west)," said Community Development Director Tony Otte. Asked if this helps gas prices in the area, Otte said that any direct competition would be from the south side of the road.
"The only other gas station like that near the interchange is closed right now," Otte said. "Right now, until that gas station is leased, there isn't any other competition."
McIntyre said the company plans on providing some competition to area fuel prices, including a Chevron station on the northwest quadrant of the I-95/State Road 44 interchange.
"We survey our local competition daily to determine store-specific pricing," McIntyre said. "We strive to offer our guests the lowest prices among our local competition."
The RaceTrac is just the start of several projects in the neighborhood.
Just east of the exit, developer Geosam is executing a plan to build about 341,000 square feet of retail space, a 98-room hotel and 15,000 square feet for offices on 160 acres at the intersection's northeast corner. The New Smyrna Beach Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved Coastal Woods’ site plan in January and home sites are being cleared now.
Across the street, a Popeye’s restaurant is in the early stages. Otte said Tuesday that a site plan has been submitted to the city and a staff review is underway.
As for the roughly 180 acres of land surrounding the RaceTrac, those plans remain unclear.
Vincent Snowden, whose Ocean Gate Commerce Center LLC entered into contract to sell the property to a subsidiary of RaceTrac Petroleum Inc. in September 2015, is in litigation with the city over connecting city sewer. Snowden wanted to bring a “full-fledged entertainment, mixed-use complex,” to the property, but disagreements surrounding who needs to develop water access at the site has delayed development for around 19 years.
In any case, Commissioner Randy Hartman, whose Zone 4 district covers the area where the new store sits, is glad something is sprouting up at the corner.
“We’re just glad to see that there’s finally some development over there, other than the Wal-Mart,” Hartman said. “There’s been plans for years for development but because of the economy, nothing’s happened."


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ORLANDO, Fla., April 5, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RedChip Companies, Inc. ("RedChip"), an international small-cap research, investor relations, and media company, today announced that "The RedChip Money Report"™ television program will feature three emerging growth companies nationally on Fox Business News, Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.
Fox Business News is a premium business network reaching more than 65 million homes nationwide. Among all cable networks, Fox Business News' viewership ranks second only to Bloomberg in affluence.
This week's show features interviews with John Lorenz, chairman and CEO of GlyEco, Inc. (OTCQB:GLYE), a green chemistry company; Anthony Hayes, CEO of North South Holdings, Inc., soon to be acquired by Spherix, Inc. (Nasdaq:SPEX), creating a patent monetization and commercialization company; and Jeff Ronaldi, who will become CEO of Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSE MKT:DSS), a provider of anti-counterfeit technology, following Document Security Systems' merger with Lexington Technology Group, a private company focused on patent monetization and commercialization. The show also features an interview with Ryan Jacob, chairman and chief investment officer of the Jacob Funds, a mutual fund management company.
"The RedChip Money Report"™ delivers insightful commentary on small-cap investing, interviews with Wall Street analysts, financial book reviews, as well as featured interviews with executives of public companies. The show is hosted by Dave Gentry, a leading authority on small-cap stocks and president of RedChip, an international small-cap research firm and an Inc. 5000 company. Mr. Gentry has made multiple guest appearances on both CNBC and Fox Business News and has been a consultant to hundreds of public companies.
In addition to Fox Business News, the show also airs weekly on My Family TV and TUFF TV.
About RedChip Companies, Inc.
RedChip Companies, an Inc. 5000 company, is an international small-cap research, investor relations, and media company headquartered in Orlando, Florida; with affiliate offices in San Francisco, Seoul, Hong Kong and Singapore. RedChip delivers concrete, measurable results for its clients through its extensive global network of small-cap institutional and retail investors. RedChip has developed the most comprehensive platform of products and services for small-cap companies, including: RedChip Research™, Traditional Investor Relations, Digital Investor Relations, Institutional and Retail Conferences, "The RedChip Money Report"™ television show, Shareholder Intelligence, Social Media and Blogging Services, and Webcasts. To learn more about RedChip's products and services, please visit: http://www.redchip.com/visibility/productsandservices.asp.
"Discovering Tomorrow's Blue Chips Today"™
CONTACT: Jon Cunningham RedChip Companies, Inc. Tel: 1-800-RED-CHIP (733-2447), ext. 107 Email: firstname.lastname@example.org


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- July 9, 2021
- Posted by: Stratford Team
- Category: Business
Thursday, July 8th 2021, 6:28 pm
By: Grant Stephens
TULSA, Oklahoma –
A local business is frustrated after it’s been hit by break-ins three times in the last 30 days.
Travers Mahan Apparel owner Travers Mahan said the costs of merchandise loss and shattered windows is starting to add up.
He said he’s seen a slow increase in crime throughout south Tulsa over the last few years, but this month has been the worst. He hopes to bring attention to the growing issue and encourages city leaders and law enforcement to be less reactive to the increase in crime, and more proactive.
News On 6’s Grant Stephens has the full story, tonight at 9 and 10.


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Top Cable Lobbyist Says Industry’s Customer Service Is ‘Completely Unacceptable’
In a perfect world, none of us would have to call customer service, but alas, the world is far from perfect. And so too is the customer service we're talking about. No one likes having to deal with the hassle of ringing up customer service for help or a request, but that dislike gets amplified when the company behind this customer service is a cable or Internet provider.
Unless you've somehow managed to avoid the Internet these past few years, you're probably well aware of the enormous number of horror stories that have stemmed from the customer service departments of companies like Comcast and Time Warner Cable.
Just earlier this month, we learned that some exemplary Comcast employee decided to change one customer's name to "Asshole Brown", and not long after, another customer became a victim of derogatory naming as well. Those events just cap off a long line of customer service problems. And lest we not forget last summer, where former Engadget Editor-in-Chief Ryan Block made his customer service call public. A mere month after that, we learned of the experience of someone else who was charged outrageous fees for things he was outright told would be free. Oy.
Cable providers consistently rank at the bottom of customer satisfaction surveys
Suffice to say, Comcast has a horrible reputation, and while it's not the only company that's guilty of poor customer service, it's been doing an awesome job of hogging the limelight.
Well, fortunately for us, the president and chief executive of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association Michael Powell agrees that the customer service situation is brutal. He says, "Customer service right now is completely unacceptable.", and that "I think the industry needs to really — not double, triple — make a 10-year commitment to the recovery of that relationship."
Powell goes on to say that he doesn't think customer service reps are bad people; this is all just the consequence of the industry exploding as it has. In the 90s, cable's popularity substantially grew, and when home Internet became a reality, its adoption only added to the stress of these companies.
Comcast's customer service isn't remotely impressive (Flickr: namestartswithj89)
I personally don't really buy that excuse; size shouldn't dictate whether customers are treated well. Companies like Comcast have become infamous for not only nickel and diming their customers, but also intimidating them should they want to cut down or remove their service.
Either way, it's nice to see that the top brass in the industry is displeased with the situation. All we can do is hope that it will result in actual change.


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For American startups who have grown to the point where they want to expand into Europe, there is an obvious path to follow – fly across the ‘pond’ and end up in London, an Engish-speaking world city with a well-established entrepreneurial culture.
But, as a senior figure at Brooklyn-based Etsy revealed, US startups are increasingly finding their way to Berlin.
Matt Stinchcomb is the European director at Etsy, an online marketplace for vintage and handmade crafts. He told Silicon Allee that Berlin is the place to be for American companies looking to make a name for themselves in the European market.
“We didn’t pick Berlin because we thought it was the European startup capital, we picked Berlin because culturally we thought it was the right fit for Etsy,” Matt said. “The attitude and creativity of the city reminds me of Brooklyn, and combined with the low rent prices, we thought it would be the ideal location to set up Etsy in Europe.”
While Etsy is a well established company, with its Berlin offices having been in operation since 2009, there is still a kinship with the Berlin startup scene: “Because we’re moving to all these new and different countries and getting things started, it makes us seem like a young company again. In Berlin, where we only have six people, it makes our office have a very startup feel.”
And Matt would know that feeling – Etsy founder Rob Kalin was his roommate while the company was still in its development stage, only joining up officially a few months after its launch in 2005. But Matt is also keenly aware of the America-to-Germany corporate culture shock.
He added: “It’s challenging, in terms of the bureaucratic nature of the country. America is very business-friendly, and you can start a business there in 20 seconds with internet connection or one phone call, everything happens automatically. I think that Americans have a very entrepreneurial spirit too, and thats really exciting.”
From an American perspective, Matt said, he feels that Germany has more of an old-fashioned and traditional approach to business, with significantly more barriers for young companies to face. “If Etsy had started here, it just would’t have been feasible; we simply didn’t have the financial backing to do it. When we did set up in Berlin, it was a slow process – and American companies just aren’t used to that business speed.”
As for the ongoing debate over the clone culture in Germany’s tech scene, Matt believes it is inevitable as growing companies become so focused on their native markets that they fail to consider establishing themselves in other countries. He said: “The initial thoughts you have as a company is not to move overseas, it’s more thinking about buying servers to keep the site up! I think that’s why you see a lot of copycats and clones popping up in international markets, because someone has proven a good idea can work somewhere else, and they see an opportunity.
“And I think, in general, German VCs need to be able to see how viable an idea is before they invest. With overseas examples, you can have the proof the concept works, without having the risk.”
However, Berlin isn’t just about struggling through endless paperwork for international startups looking to relocate – it all depends on your company’s market appeal. As Etsy’s handmade products, unique vintage items and cute crafts have a global appeal, tailoring a business strategy for the European market was not vastly different from those used to build it up from startup into a well-established company in the US. Etsy also has many small teams based across the world, including in Paris, London, Japan, Canada and Australia, showing that the right business model and product can have an international appeal.
Every city is different, however, and Matt had some firm advice for anyone considering a move to Berlin: “Get a German attorney, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from other companies, both German and international, to do it right the first time!”


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Tag Archives: Israel and marijuana decriminalization
Israel may soon start exporting medical cannabis to countries where it is legal for medicinal use, following the recommendation of..
An Israeli doctor who never smoked pot is conducting the first study in the world that’s examining the effects of..
The Israeli company Panaxia already launched a production facility in Bernalillo, now it will offer smokeless proprietary cannabinoids in New..
The conference in Tel Aviv brought together legal marijuana experts and entrepreneurs from around the globe. (more…)


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Coinbase Ventures, Multicoin, BlueYard Capital and Collaborative Fund are investing $1.5 million in a new protocol applied by data startup Textile.
Textile aims to create a tool which enables developers to store files more easily in a decentralized manner.
The app mimics the functionalities of a decentralized Flickr, but Textile wishes to aid users to control their own data by implementing the Interplanetary File System (IPFS). IPFS is an open protocol developed by Protocol Labs, which also was behind the Filecoin ICO.
“IPFS’s story is under-shared, in my opinion,” stated co-founder and CEO Textile, Andrew Hill. “It’s one of the greatest inventions of the past decade and has already proven its value in countless real-world examples.”
The new architecture for the web created by IPFS allows data to be stored by its content instead of its location, meaning more copies could be stored in more locations all over the world. This system also ensures that data will not disappear when one link goes offline.